PM Modi Frames Illegal Immigration As National Security Crisis In Assam Poll Campaign

GUWAHATI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi has elevated the issue of illegal immigration from a political talking point to a critical matter of national security, placing it at the heart of the BJP’s re-election strategy for Assam. Speaking to booth-level workers via the NaMo App on Monday, March 30, 2026, the Prime Minister asserted that the state’s identity and the livelihoods of its indigenous populations are at stake.

1. A Call to Action for BJP Workers

During the digital interaction, PM Modi urged party cadres to document the localized impact of immigration to present a clear contrast between the BJP and the opposition.

• Documenting Encroachment: Workers were tasked with collecting specific data on illegal land occupations and their long-term negative effects on local communities.
• Voter Outreach: Modi encouraged the sharing of videos from citizens who have faced harassment, framing the choice for voters as a transition from Congress-led “Atikraman” (encroachment) to BJP-led “Adhikar” (rights).
• The Security Link: “It concerns the land of farmers, the livelihoods of poor and Adivasis, and the security of women too,” the PM stated, linking immigration directly to social and economic stability.

2. The BJP’s “Double-Engine” Track Record

The Prime Minister highlighted the state’s shift from a period of instability to one of “peace and progress.” * Peace Accords: He cited the successful implementation of peace treaties, particularly in Bodoland, as evidence of the “double-engine” government’s efficiency.

• Eviction Drives: The rhetoric aligns with recent government action; over 49,500 acres of forest and government land have been cleared in the past five years. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has already pledged to expand these drives to another 165,000 acres if the party returns to power.

3. Congress Rebuttal: “Laboratory of Broken Promises”

The Congress party swiftly dismissed the PM’s allegations, accusing the BJP of using communal division to mask governance failures.

• Failure to Act: Senior spokesperson Barnali Phukan questioned why the “double-engine” government had not resolved the issue despite a decade in power at the Centre and years in the state.
• Silencing Voices: Phukan alleged that the BJP has created an environment where “young voices are being silenced and sent to jail merely for writing poems,” while simultaneously protecting its own political interests.

4. Regional Expansion: Puducherry Interaction

The Prime Minister’s digital outreach extended beyond Assam. In a similar session with workers in Puducherry, he contrasted the NDA’s current governance model with the previous Congress-DMK administration, specifically targeting first-time voters to maximize turnout for the upcoming polls.

Assam Polls: Immigration & Land Statistics